Diaphragm valve



Nov. 20, 1951 w. o. TEETERS 2,575,775

DIAPHRAGM VALVE I Filed Sept. 4, 1945 2 swam-5mm 1 Z2 6 7 24 2 /4- v 24b8 3 Fig. 4

W.O.TEIETERS mvsmoa BY q- 2 Maw ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 w. o. TEETERS2,575,775

DIAPHRAGM VALVE Filed Sept. 4, 1945 v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fig.6

W.O.TEETER$ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED S TATESATENT OFFICE DIAPHRAGMVAINE Application September 4, 1945; SerialNc.614,404

4 Claims.

such as hydrogen fluoride chlorine, and metallic fluorides are employed,their flowbeing regulated by valves of appropriate construction..JOrdinary valves have been found unsuited to this work be cause ofleakage and. because=valve partsare attacked bythe gases. Consideringthe highlydeveloped stateof the valveart, it would be thought tobe asimple matter to find satisfactory, valves to fill any engineering..need,..b,ut.this.. .has not proved to be the case in connectionwithtgasesof the type indicated. Itis therefore anobjectof thisinvention -to design :and construct, a:.valve having parts. that willnotlbe easilytattackedtby the gases, that will bepositive in control,andthat can be made in large quantities by processes adapted tocommercialemployment.

Another object of the inventionis to construct a valve having a wall ofdiaphragm typesealecl by fused metal, the seals and diaphragmof whichcan be subjected tolinspectiont -Anothermobject is to subject certainparts of a-valveto sealing .by

fusion after assembly, to-protect the valve body from the intenseheat,.and to prevent destruction of other parts of thevalve assembly.Yetanother object of l the invention is .to accomplish the: pure posesof a conical valve seatin asuperior manner without the use of two.interfittingconicalsur faces, and to secure improved sealing. bythe useof a valve point or a valvelseat .of novel. construction.

Theobjects of the invention .are obtained...generally speaking bytheemployment of the principles which are exemplifiedin the valve whosedescription follows. Other. objects of the. invention andthe advantagesof the generalconstruction andof constructional detailswill .be. set,forth as the descriptionproceeds.

In' the drawings,.Fig. 1 is a verticalsectional viewithrough a .valveembodying theiprinciples of the invention; Fig.2 is. an inverted planviewpf the1valve shown. inFig. 1; Fig.3 isa plan View of the valve; Fig.4 is a plan view of the limitplate; Fig..5. is.a plan view of thediaphragm ;F ig., Gisa vertical. sectional view through a modificationof the invention having; a. number of advantages,

,. Referring etonthe figures, of .the. drawing andato the numeralsthereof in .which like numerals refer to lilre parts, there is .abasemember it having passages i and it, which communicate between theouterand the upper surfaces. thereof. The base memberhas a reduced. andscrew-threaded outer wall terminating in an annular flangediwhich-servssto center a diaphragmi i anda limit plate 22. The surface ofthe base inernberis continued inwardly fromtheufiange E5, as an annularshoulder that is designed toreceive the edge of the diaphragm 2t, and asa conical surfacet that terminates atits center in a recessed valve seatH3 at the end of the passage 12. The baseimernber may be provided withtappingsformounting bolts or with other means by which the valve may befixed in operating position. The angleof theconical surface-is--selected vith greatcare because-it determines the location of thevalve seat it which must i be accurately placed toavoid strain on thediaphragm and imperfect seating of the valve point on the valve seat.

In thefigures, the valve seat is made by providing' at the inner end ofthe passage 52 ana'n-nular edges.

groove 13,01 multiplicityof grooveadesignedto providespaced annularvalve seats of different diameters so thatthe seating surfaces lieon thesurface of a projected-cone with'the same configuration as the conicalvalve point it, or preferably a projected cone with alarger apex anglethan the conicalvalve point. There is thus provided a multiple sealbetween the valve point and the valve seat that hasadvantages over theseal provided by a conical seat. The groove E3 in the base forms a valveseat at both of its annular In the preferred construction the groove isso formed that the lower and inner annular edge makes sealing contactwith the valve point it slightly before contactismade by the valve pointwith the upper, outer annular edge of the groove. As the point and thefirst seat wear slightly in use, the second sealing contact is madebetween the upper, outer edge of the groove and the valve point.Therefore, as time passes the sealing of the valvebecomes increasinglyperfect, in distinction to prior art valves that tended to become wornout and to seat imperfectly after use.

The single groove is illustrative of theprinciple. Doublegrooveswillprovide three seats,.and it is possible to increase the number ofseatsindefinitely, by a pyramid of grooves, to whatever extent ispermitted by the technical needs and economic factors of a particularsituation. Alternatively, the seat in the base may have an ungroovedconical surface, and the point may be provided with a plurality of seatsby cutting a plurality of pyramidally arranged grooves in its surface.In some cases, also, it may be desirable to have the first contact ofthe valve members made at the upper outer seat, rather than at the lowerinner seat, which can be arranged by appropriate alignment of thecooperating surfaces in making the valve.

The emciency of this construction is still further increased by the useof a novel valve point, which as shown in Fig. 1 has a hollow point thatlends some resiliency to the Wall of the point and permits it to conformmore readily to minute imperfections in the valve seat and thus toproduce a better seal.

When the valve is used in certain chemical processes of the typeindicated hereinabove the base member is subjected to the action ofcorrosive gases or liquids which tend to attack the metal of which it ismade, particularly around the valve seat, so that after certain periodsof use the valve does not seal perfectly and leakage occurs. In somecases the attack upon the material of the base is so severe that theentire structure tends to disintegrate. It has been observed that thematerial from which cooperating parts of the valve are made has aninfluence on the rate of corrosion and it has therefore been an objectof this invention to select cooperating materials which jointly act toresist corrosion. It has been found, for example, that type R Monelmetal is a satisfactory material from which to make the base member Ill.

The upper conical surface 8 of the base forms one wall of a chamber, theother wall of which comprises an annular diaphragm 24, provided withannular concentric corrugations, that is caught at its center and firmlyheld between a shoulder on the valve point l4 and a flange E6 on thespindle 5. The outer edge of the diaphragm rests upon the shoulder l andfits the inner circumference of the flange 6 so that the Valve point isaccurately centered with respect to the valve seat when the valve isassembled. The valve point i4 is provided with a stud which has a forcefit within the hollow point of the spindle l5. Silver soldering may alsobe used to prevent leakage of gases or liquids past the shoulder of thevalve point and the flange of the valve spindle for additionalprotection against leakage. The spindle l5 may be satisfactorily made oftype R Monel metal or Type 303 stainless steel, which are exemplary ofsatisfactory materials, but the valve point and diaphragm are preferablymade of hardened type Z nickel.

The valve spindle l5 passes with a loose fit through a relatively rigidlimit plate 22 that has a circumferential flange separated from theouter edge of the diaphragm 24 by a washer of silver solder 2 2a. A coilSpring 21] encompasses the spindle l5 and bears at one end upon thelimit plate 22, the other end of the spring being adjustably constrainedby a nut 2i mounted upon the upper screw-threaded end of the spindle.The spindle l5 terminates in a seat for a ball bearing !9. The spindle,diaphragm and limit plate structure which has just been describedconstitutes a sub-assembly which may be put together and mounted as aunit in the valve.

In a preferred method of constructing the subassembly the parts areassembled, the diaphragm and point being of unhardened' Z nickel, the

point is accurately drilled, turned, and the point and diaphragm arehardened by heat treating according to the usual practice for hardeningthat type of nickel.

Inasmuch as the gases which pass through the valve are sealed away fromthe spring and the limit plate, those elements may be made of anysatisfactory materials. The limit plate may be satisfactorily made ofhard drawn brass, and the spring of spring steel, but the diaphragm ispreferably Z nickel. In mounting the sub-assembly in the casing asilver-solder washer is laid upon the shoulder 1 within the flange 6,the sub-assembly is mounted on the base with the rim of the diaphragmresting upon the solder washer. When the sub-assembly has been mountedon the shoulder l a housing It, having an inner shouldercircumferentially conforming to the limit plate and having internalscrew threads conforming to the screw threads of the base, is screweddown upon the base and bears against the edge of the limit plate 22 tocompress the solder washers between the limit plate and the diaphragmand between the shoulder l and the diaphragm. The seal is completed byapplying an induction'coil about the valve wall outside the flange 6 andmelting the two solder washers by inductively generated heat. The heatis concentrated in the desired area by an annular groove 21 thatcircumscribes the base [0 and serves to insulate the lower portions ofthe base from the heat in the induction area. There is thus constructeda fluid tight chamber that may have communication with inlet and outletpipes through passages II and I2. When this method of construction andassembly are employed, the brass plate 22 may suifer some decrease instrength from the action of the induced heat, but this objection isovercome in the structure shown in Fig. 6.

The upper portion of the housing 18 is cylindrical and is interiorlyscrew-threaded. An exteriorly screw-threaded bonnet I1 is mounted in thescrew threads of the cylindrical portion of housing l8. Ball bearing [9is held between the seat on the end of the spindle l5 and the seat onthe inside of the bonnet H. The upper end of the housing may be, andpreferably is, continued inwardly to form a limiting flange 25, and thescrew-threaded portion of the bonnet may be, and preferably is,terminated at 26 to form a limiting shoulder that cooperates to limit inone direction the relative movement of the bonnet and the housing. Thebonnet is provided with a knurled, annular handle 23 that is shown ashaving a circular fit on' the bonnet, fixed by the use of silver solder.Other typesof fit and other. types of connection may be substituted whenany advantages are derived from their use. The bonnet may besatisfactorily made of stainless steel and the housing may be made ofbrass, which are exemplary of satisfactory material types. 7

It may be assumed, for the purpose of describing the operation of thevalve, that passage I2 is an inlet and passage H an outlet. If it isdesired to close the valve, the handle is rotated clockwise to move thebonnet toward the limit plate and force the spindle down against theopposition of the spring. The corrugated construction of the diaphragmprovides extensibility sufficient to let the valve close, and as thebonnet is turned sufiiciently along the screw threads of the housing thehollow point of the valve makes contact with .the valve seat I3 andseals the chamber against the entrance of gases or liquids.

The l'i'ollow point of the valve lends enough resiliency thereto-tounproven eseating of -the valve-poi n-the-v-alve-seat. it is desired-toopenthe "valve, -the handle 23 1s turned in a counterclockwise-d-i-reetion il the valveis opened tbtnie selected flow r Trie-compression of the coil springvmay be varied by adjusting the nut 2|,permitting the adjustment of the valvdtocompensate for operatingconditions of varyingpressures;

In the apparatus shown'in' Fig. 6 are disclosed novel means ofconstruction that are adapted: to permit the inspection ofthe solderedbond-at'the upper edge of the diaphragm and "the cleaning of thehousing, to prevent the weakening of the limit plate by the sealingprocess, and to permit the installation of a pre-hardened point when thepreferred method of assembly is not available for use, either from lackof the preferred materials or lack of process facilities.

In this figure of the drawing the base It], housing l8, spindle I5,spring 20, nut 2|, bonnet I7 and handle 23 are substantially like thosethat have been hereinabove described. The ball [9 is held in the upperpart of the bonnet by peening the bonnet material up beneath the ball,or preferably by the use of a retaining ring 38 of suitableconstruction, in order to prevent the loss of the ball when the valve isdismantled.

The diaphragm is emplaced between silver solder Washers, as previouslydescribed, but a diaphragm ring 3| of steel and a separate flat steellimit ring 32 replace the limit plate 22 shown in Fig. l, and the shapeof the housing is slightly changed to accommodate these modifications.By this means the chamber is equally well sealed, but the weakening ofthe limit plate by induced heat is prevented and the top of thediaphragm can be inspected and cleaned by the removal of the washer 32.

The valve point 33 may be made of pre-hardened nickel and mounted ashereinabove described. In this case, therefore, the advantages of thehollow point are lost, but the use of valve points and diaphragms ofdifferent materials is facilitated.

Among the advantages of the invention are a valve which is tightlysealed, that has but few parts exposed to corrosion, that is soconstructed that the materials best adapted to perform each function ofthe valve may be used in the construction of each element. The parts ofthe valve are simply constructed, are easy to assemble and to dismantle,and are suited to commercial manufacture and operation. Other advantagesof the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Since many embodiments might be made of the present invention and sincemany changes might be made in the embodiment described, it is to beunderstood that the foregoing description is to be interpreted asillustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A valve comprising an exteriorly threaded base having inlet andoutlet passages therethrough and having an annular seat for a membraneand a conical surface proceeding therefrom terminating in a valve seatat the end of one of said passages, a housin threaded on the base andhaving an annular seat for a limit plate and a conical surfaceproceeding therefrom terminating in an internally screw-threadedcylinder having an internal limiting flange at its end, a subassemblyfor the interior of the assembled 6 baseB-arrdhousing'comprisingiasspindlerhavlingea screw-threadediend terminatinginira seatitoroa ball beai i-ng'azid having a hollow end with anoutstanding flange, a hollow pointed valve element mounted in thehollowend of the spindle, a limitzplate and a' diaphragm-gripped at theiredges by the said annular seats and spaced apart at their centers ofwhich that of the diaphragm is held between 'the spiridle'flange and thevalve pointan adjustable spring mounted between the limit plate andaunton--the'- screw-threaded end ofthe spindle, and 'means to"'-a djust thevalve comprising a bonnet screw 't-lirea ded in the housing 'aridbearing "uporr'the spin'dle through a ball mounted j in theterminab'seat"thereofi 2. A valve comprising a threaded base havinginlet and outlet passages therethrough and having an annular seat for amembrane and a conical surface proceeding therefrom terminating in avalve seat at the end of one of said passages, a housing threaded on thebase and having an annular seat for a limit plate and a conical surfaceproceeding therefrom terminating in a screwthreaded cylinder having alimiting flange at its end, a sub-assembly for the interior of theassembled base and housing comprising a spindle having a screw-threadedend terminating in a seat for a ball bearing and having a hollow endwith a flange, a hollow pointed valve element mounted in the hollow endof the spindle, a limit plate and a diaphragm gripped at their edges bythe said annular seats and spaced apart at their centers of which thatof the diaphragm is held between the spindle flange and the valve point,a spring mounted between the limit plate and a nut on the screw-threadedend of the spindle, and means to adjust the valve comprising a bonnetscrew-threaded in the housing and bearing upon the spindle through aball mounted in the terminal seat thereof.

3. A valve comprising a threaded base having inlet and outlet passagestherethrough and having an annular seat for a membrane and a surfaceproceeding therefrom terminating in a valve seat at the end of one ofsaid passages, a housing mounted on the base having a seat for a limitplate and a surface proceeding therefrom terminating in a screw-threadedcylinder, a flanged spindle having a screw-threaded end with a bearingseat, a valve element mounted in an end of the spindle, a limit plateand a diaphragm gripped at their edges by the said annular seats andspaced apart at their centers of which that of the diaphragm is heldbetween the flange on said spindle and the valve element, a springmounted between the limit plate and a nut on the screw-threaded end ofthe spindle, and means to adjust the valve comprising a bonnetscrewthreaded in the housing and bearing upon the spindle through a ballmounted in the bearing seat thereof.

4. A valve comprising a threaded base having inlet and outlet passagestherethrough and having an annular seat for a membrane and a surfaceproceeding therefrom terminating in a valve seat at the end of one ofsaid passages, a housing mounted on the base having a seat for a limitplate and a surface proceeding therefrom terminating in a screw-threadedcylinder, a spindle having a screw-threaded end with a bearing seat, avalve element mounted on the other end of the spindle, a limit plate, aspring mounted between the limit plate and a nut on the screw-threadedend of the spindle, and means acting through said 7 8 bearing seat; toadjust the valve by moving the Number Name Date spindle against thethrust of the spring. 1,893,380 Uschman et a1 Jan. 3, 1933 WILBUR O.TEETERS. 1,977,015 Rodler Oct. 16, 1934: 2,061,028 Forbes Nov. 1'7, 1936REFERENCES CITED 5 2,306,291 Alons Dec. 22, 1942 The followingreferences are of record in the 2,316,506 Doelker P 1943 file Of thispatent: I FOREIGN T TS V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Country Date 7Number Name Date 10 12,619 Great Britain of 1895 167,010 Mo et 2 7 OTHERREFERENCES 679,062 Stadeli July 23, 1901 V 877,375 a Nostran Jam 28'1908 G. E. Rev1ew, February 1944, pages 17 and 18. 1,067,102 FailingJuly 3, 1913 in Science Library- 1,672,575 McIntosh June 5, 1928

